{{prxprp130.jpg}} || 130 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

was as natural as your suspicion. I do not at all comprehend her

reason for wishing to be intimate with me, but if the same circunv

stances were to happen again, I am sure I should be deceived again.

Caroline did not return my visit till yesterday; and not a note, not a

line, did I receive in the mean time. When she did come, it was very

evident that she had no pleasure in it; she made a slight, formal apology,

for not calling before, said not a word of wishing to see me again, and

was in every respect so altered a creature, that when she went away,

I was perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer. I

pity, though I cannot help blaming her. She was very wrong in

singling me out as she did; I can safely say, that every advance to inti"

macy began on her side. But I pity her, because she must feel that

she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety

for her brother is the cause of it. I need not explain myself farther;

and though we know this anxiety to be quite needless, yet if she feels

it it will easily account for her behaviour to me; and so deservedly

dear as he is to his sister, whatever anxiety she may feel on his behalf,

is natural and amiable. I cannot but wonder, however, at her having

any such fears now, because, if he had at all cared about me, we must

have met long, long ago. He knows of my being in town, I am

certain, from something she said herself; and yet it would seem, by her

manner of talking, as if she wanted to persuade herself that he is really

partial to Miss Darcy. I cannot understand it. If I were not afraid

of judging harshly, I should be almost tempted to say, that there is a

strong appearance of duplicity in all this. But I will endeavour to

banish every painful thought, and think only of what will make me

happy, your affection, and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle

and aunt. Let me hear from you very soon. Miss Bingley said

something of his never returning to Netherfield again, of giving up the

house, but not with any certainty. We had better not mention it.

I am extremely glad that you have such pleasant accounts from our

friends at Hunsford. Pray go to see them, with Sir William and

Maria. I am sure you will be very comfortable there. -- Yours, etc'

This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned

as she considered that Jane would no longer be duped, by

the sister at least. All expectation from the brother was now

absolutely over. She would not even wish for any renewal of

his attentions. His character sunk on every review of it; and as

a punishment for him, as well as a possible advantage to Jane,

she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. Darcy 's

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